The meters transmit a radio signal containing a meter number and a meter reading that can be picked up by a radio receiver in the city’s vehicle. The meter reading from that transmission is used to generate the utility bill. The transmission lasts for 7 milliseconds (07 of one second) and occurs once every 14 seconds, using less than 100 milliwatts of power. This regular transmission allows the city to capture readings as it drives by and on-demand should a special reading be needed. In other words, the meters transmit about 45 seconds a day from a single "D" cell battery.

If you notice water leaking at your meter, see if you can determine if the leak is before the meter or after the meter. You will need to contact the Public Works Department if the leak is before the meter. An appointment will be scheduled for someone to come fix the leak. Anything after the meter is the homeowner's responsibility and you will need to contact a plumber to fix the leak.

No, your meter does not require any maintenance by the homeowner; however, you should be careful not to damage the meter or allow temperatures in your basement to drop to levels that would freeze the meter during the winter months. Be especially careful of your meter freezing if you have renovated and your meter is now behind a wall or panel as you will be charged for replacing the meter if it should freeze or sustain damage.

You can take a reading of the water meter yourself at any time. You must use a flashlight over the top of the meter, this will “wake up” the meter from a sleep mode. This is how the meter is able to save its battery life by going into a sleep mode. Then you are able to see the meter reading on the display.

Because of the specialized equipment and alternating frequencies being used, the information would be extremely difficult for unauthorized acquisition or hacking. The transmission itself contains only the numbers associated with your current meter reading and number identifying your meter to compare with our records to ensure a match. To protect your privacy, no personal data is transmitted.

No, you will not see interference with your television reception, phone or pacemaker. Of the 9 million Neptune water meters in operation for the past 13 years, no interference with any other RF devices has ever been documented.

According to the Federal Communications Commission and the World Health Organization (WHO), radio frequency signals produced by radio read meters or other such wireless networks have shown no occurrences of adverse long- or short-term health effects.

The WHO's conclusion is that: "Considering the very low exposure levels and research results collected to date, there is no convincing scientific evidence that the weak RF signals from base stations and wireless networks cause adverse health effects."